The moment you leave the sidewalk, you are in play. [340]

[estro]

Let us say I am on the far right edge of the far right lane where, as a bicyclist, I should be.* Three lanes over is the left hand turn lane, where I want to be. The traffic is relatively heavy.

Looking over my shoulder before I signal (as not to have my arm taken off) causes the nearest cars behind me to slow down such that they are driving just enough back so that they can slam on the brake if I suddenly pull out in front of them, but not enough such that I can actually merge into the lane without either throwing myself under tires or screeching brakes.

In my experience, signaling at this point just adds to the problem as now the driver won't pass me as they now actually know I want to pull into the lane and are worried that I will suddenly do so. They also don't tend to back off enough such that it is safe for me to merge. During this whole thing I have been slowing down a bit so that I won't overshoot my turn lane, and so whatever gap there may have been behind the first car is now closed by the car behind it.

The most frustrating part of this is that I suspect this is causing the driver annoyance at bicyclists. Not because I am doing anything wrong, but their own not knowing that I am trying to be safe is conflating with the occasional instance where bicyclists are actively aggressive in traffic (and thus cause screeching brakes).

There has got to be some elegant solution (currently, if I can't merge I continue on to the intersection and use the crosswalks to make my turn. Depending on the light pattern of the intersection, this can take up to three cycles to complete, which really really sucks.)

*in California, if there is no bike lane, bicyclists legally can use the whole lane, but regularly making use of that right is kinda rude.

Comments

[fireba11.livejournal.com]

Honestly, this is something that requires education both on the part of motorists *and* bicyclists. Sharing the road isn't rocket science - and I just leave a good 3 car lengths of room when some would-be Lance Armstrong needs to get over. (and if he doesn't take it, I'll just blip the horn to make sure he knows I'm coming, then pass).

Some of the worst bicycling habits I've seen are right here in DC -- and coincidentally, some of the worst motoring, too. Getting around on two wheels in this town (with or without a motor) is suicide.

Just a heads-up: tvresq and I will be in town next week! SF from Tues-Thurs, Monterey from Fri-Sun (doing a race there), then back to SF from Sun nite to Weds. Would love to see you while we're around!

[blue-estro.livejournal.com]

Getting tea or a pint in with the two of you would be excellent! Tuesday evening may be the best bet I should be heading through SF some-when around 7.

I will know about later in the week hopefully by Sunday, though.

[davidglasser.livejournal.com]

I do just use the lane in the first place (pulling over to let cars pass if it's a one-lane road or something), but that only helps the problem for the lane I'm in, not the next couple. I don't think it's rude as long as I'm going at a reasonable pace and there are other lanes.

[blue-estro.livejournal.com]

This is on a relatively crowded road where requiring all the cars to merge over and back to pass me would drastically slow down both lanes.

Generally any street I have a problem merging on is going to be as crowded. San Francisco drivers are better trained to deal with this, but I suspect Santa Clara only sees bikes on the road in flocks on weekends.